Seating unit having adjustable leg rest



Feb. 3, 195 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2, 7

' v SEATING UNIT HAVING ADJUSTABLE LEG REST Filed Nov. 5, 1956 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INYENTOR. F G FRIDTJOF F. SCHLIEPHACKE.

BY M 11% AT'roRNEYs Feb. 3, 1959 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,8

SEATING UNIT HAVING ADJUSTABLE LEG REST Filed Nov. 5, 1956 2Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGA I INVENTOR. 2 FRIDTJQF F- SCHLIEPHACKE MMWMZA'TTORNEY'S United States Patent 2,871,919 SEATTNG UNIT HAVINGADJUSTABLE LEG REST Fridtjof F. Schliephacke, Berlin-Schmargendorf,Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz, Greenwich, Conn.

Application November 5, 1956, Serial No. 620,420

4 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to reclining seatingunits, particularly chairs having a leg rest which is movable to aprojected position when the chair is inclined and which is retractedwhen the chair is in upright position.

The invention is particularly applicable to reclining articles offurniture in which there is a back rest pivoted to a stationary frameand a seat pivoted to the back rest, including constructions in whichthe seat is pivoted to the back rest, at a point above the pivotal axisof the back rest. It is also applicable to seating units in which theback rest and seat are rigidly connected together but may be tilted to amore or less reclining position as a unit. The objects of theinventionvare to provide improvements in leg rest supporting andoperating linkages applicable to reclining articles of furniture of theabove and similar types.

A feature of the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated isthat the longer links which transmit motion from the back rest and seatto the leg rest are pull links, that is, they are subject to tensionstresses in moving the leg rest to its projected position and supportingit in such position when the legs are resting thereon. These links aretherefore not subject to buckling when the maximum stresses are appliedthereto.

In the accompanying drawings which show certain preferred embodiment ofthe invention Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chair in recliningposition with the leg rest projected;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the chair shown in Figure 1 with theseating elements in upright position;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified construction oflinkage;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the chairs shown in Fig. 3 with theparts in reclining position;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a form of chair having a unitary backresting and seating member in upright position; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a chair shown in Fig. 5 with the seatingelements tilted and the leg rest extended.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs, 1 and 2 the chaircomprises a stationary frame having legs 22 connected by side framemembers 24 and arms 26. A back rest 28 is pivoted to the frame near itslower end at points 30. The seat 32 is pivoted to the back rest atpoints 34 which are higher than the pivotal axis of the back rest sothat when the back rest is tilted back the seat moves back a little waywith it. The seat is also tilted up toward the front, it being mountedfor this purpose on the upper ends of seat guide links 36 which arepivoted to the seat at points 38 and which are at their lower endspivoted at points. 40 to guide members or plates 42 which are pivoted tothe frame at points 44. Pull links 46 are pivoted at their front ends at49 to guidemembers or plates 42 and at their rear ends to the back restat points 48 which are above the points at which the back rest ispivoted to the frame. The points 48 could be made to 2,871,919 PatentedFeb. 3, 19.59

ice

' coincide with the points 34 but this is not necessary. and

' to the leg rest nearer to the rear edge thereof than are the links 52The links 54 are longer than the links 52 and are pivoted at their freeends at points 56 to connecting links 58 which are pivoted to the seatat points ,60. Pivoted to the seat at points 62 are operating levers 64,the outer ends of which are pivoted at 66 to the ends of links 52. Theoperating levers 64 cross the links 54 and are pivoted thereto at thecrossing points 68. The operating levers. 64 have short arms 70projecting beyond the pivots 62 and these short arms are connected tothe guide members or plates 42 by pull links 72 which are. pivoted tothe lever arms 70 at 74 and to the plates or guide members 42 at points76.

In the construction shown it will be seen that when the back rest 28 istilted back it will pull on links 46 which will swing the plates 42about the pivots 44, thereby lifting the front part of the seat. Theswinging of the plates or guide members 42 will also pull on the links.72 which will swing the leg rest operating levers 64 about their pivotsand cause the linkage to raise and project the leg rest. The location ofpivots 62 and the length of the short arms 70 is preferably such thatthe ends of these arms do not at any time project above the seatingsurface. The parts of the leg rest operating levers 64 between the pivotpoints 68 and the pivot points 62 are preferably given a concavecurvature downward. as shown at so as to be more out of the way when theleg rest is projected.

Figures 3 and 4 show another form of the invention in which the frame20, back rest 28, and seat 32 are of the construction described above.In this instance the seat guide links 36a are pivoted at their lowerends at 40a directly to the frame members and serve to tilt the seatwhen the latter is drawn back by the backward swinging of the back rest.Guide levers 42a are pivoted at their lower ends to the frame members,conveniently but not necessarily at points 40a, and pivoted to theseguide levers at points 49a between their ends are pull links 46a whichare pivoted to the back rest at points 48. The upper ends of guidelevers 42a are pivoted at points 76a to pull links 72a which are pivotedat points 74 to leg rest operating links 64, the leg rest linkage shownbeing the same as in the construction previously described.

Figures 5 and 6 show another modification of the invention as applied toa chair having the back rest 28b and seat 32b formed as a rigid unit.This seating unit is mounted for tilting movement on a fixed frame orbase 20b by means of rear seat guide links and front seat guide links36b which are pivoted at their lower ends to the frame at points 102 and40b respectively. The leg rest 50 is supported on linkage which is shownas the same as that illustrated and described in connection with the,previous figures, including leg rest operating levers 64 pivoted to theseat at 62, and having short arms 70. These are pivoted at 74 to pulllinks 72b, the

lower ends of which are pivoted at points 76b to the upper ends of guidelevers 42b which are pivoted to the frame at points 40b. Points 40b maycoincide with the points at which the front seat guide links 36b arepivoted to the frame, but this is not essential. Pull links 46b arepivoted at their front ends to intermediate points 4% of the levers4222, the rear ends of the links 46b being pivoted to the seat at points48b. The points 48b may coincide with the points where the upper ends ofthe rear seat guide links 100 are pivoted to the seat, but this is notessential. When the seating unit is tilted on the seat guide links tothe position as shown in Figure 6, tension will be placed on the links46b which will move the guide levers 42b rearward, and in turn puttension on the links 72b, which will project the leg rest, as in theprevious constructions. 1

It is understood that certain. parts, elementsor mechanisms shown in onefigure may be substituted for corresponding parts, elements ormechanisms of. the embodiments shown in other figures. of. the.drawings.

I have described preferred embodiments. of my invention, but it isunderstood that. this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration, andthat various omissions or changes in shape, proportion and arrangementof parts, as well as the substitutionof equivalent elements for thoseherein shown and described may be made without departring from thespirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a reclining article of furniture having a stationary frame, bodysupporting members comprising a seat and back rest and means formounting said body supporting members on said frame permitting backwardtilting movement thereof with respect to said frame, said means formounting said body supporting members including at least one seat guidelink pivoted at one end to the seat and at the other end to the frame aguide member pivoted near its lower end on the frame, a pull linkpivoted to the guide member above the pivotal point of the guide memberon the frame and to a body supporting member having backward movementwhen the body supporting members are tilted toward a reclining position,a leg rest and means for connecting said leg rest and said seatpermitting movement of said leg rest from a retracted position when theseat and back rest are tilted, said means comprising a system of linkageincluding two links pivoted to said leg rest at spaced locations of thewidth thereof from front to rear, said system also including a two-armedoperating lever pivoted between its arms to said seat, said armsextending in opposite directions from said pivot, one of said arms beinglonger than the other, the longer arm of said operating lever beingpivoted to the end of one of said links pivoted to said leg rest, saidarm crossing the other link pivoted to said leg rest and being pivotedthereto at the point of said crossing, a connecting link pivoted to theend of said other link in rear of said crossing point and pivoted at theother end to a movable part of the structure, and a pull link connectedat one end to the shorter arm of said operating lever and at the otherend to said guide member.

2. A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which the back rest ispivoted to the frame near its lower end and in which the seat is pivotedto the back rest at a point above the pivotal axis of the back rest, theback rest being connected to the guide member by a pull link which ispivoted to the back rest at a point above the pivotal axis of the backrest and to the guide member at a point above the pivotal axis of theguide member.

3. A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which the body supportingmember comprises a seat and back rest formed as a unit and mounted onfront and rear seat guide links pivoted at their upper ends to the seatand at their lower ends to the frame, the front seat guide links beinglonger than the rear seat guide links, the link connecting the guidemember to the body support-member being pivoted at its forward end tothe guide member above the axis Where the latter is pivoted to theframe, said link being pivoted at its rear end to the body supportingmember.

4. A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which the pull linkconnecting the guide member and the body supporting member is pivoted tothe guide member between the ends thereof, the pull link connecting theshorter arm of the operating lever and the guide member being pivoted tothe guide member at a point above the pivotal point of saidfirst-mentioned pull link to the guide member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,660,225 Luckhardt Nov. 24, 1953 2,781,824 Lorenz Feb. 19, 19572,782,836 Krakauer Feb. 26, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 158,394 Germany Feb.22, 1905 166,239 Australia Dec. 6, 1955

